“Ah, so you’re finally catching on. I was starting to get bored with this little game.”

This night was a bust. She had to get out while she could. Good thing was there were too many people around for him to really harm her. She could use the cover of the innocent humans around her to get away. If he was smart, he wouldn’t want to risk exposure in such a public place.

“I don’t know what you mean.” It was best to stick with denial for as long as she could. Maybe he would give up.

“I disagree – for my liking you know far too much. So why don’t you and I have a little chat?” He put his hand on her arm again, this time gripping harder. She tried to shake him off, but he pulled her toward him, sniffing again.

A second later she felt herself being ripped away from him by strong hands. She was pressed against a hard chest, one she recognized instantly. While she couldn’t see Amaury behind her, Nina saw the reaction on the face of the vampire in front of her. He was pissed to say the least.

“Luther.” Amaury’s rumble of a voice soothed her nerves more than she’d expected. She let her back relax into him.

“Amaury. Long time no see.”

The two of them knew each other? Figured, both being vampires and all. It was probably a small world. She should have guessed.

“Didn’t know you were back in town.” Amaury’s statement sounded like an accusation.

“What, no welcoming committee for an old friend? At least your little girlfriend here was friendly. And I’m sure she would have gotten even friendlier.” He gave her a suggestive look.

In his dreams!

Instantly Amaury’s arms tightened around her, and his growl rang in her ears. “You touch her again, you won’t be walking away alive.”

She’d never heard such menace in Amaury’s voice.

“Still screwing humans I see. I could smell you on her.”

“Nina, we’re leaving.” He shifted her, pulling her off the barstool and pushed her behind him where she couldn’t see what was going on. The noise in the club prevented her from hearing whether any more niceties were being exchanged.

Seeing Amaury’s enraged face when he turned to her got rid of that uncertainty. Maybe it was better she hadn’t heard what else was said. She didn’t need to add any more choice words to her vocabulary.

Amaury was less than gentle when he pulled her through the sea of people toward the back of the club. If she’d read his face correctly, she was probably in for the spanking he’d promised her. Now that he’d left Luther behind, it seemed he’d transferred his anger onto her. His fingers dug into her wrist as he dragged her behind him, apparently on a mission.

“Where are we going?”

The corridor he hurried her along was dark and led to a flight of stairs. Without answering her question, he motioned her along until they reached a door on the upper level. He pushed it open. She saw the writing on the door, EMPLOYEES ONLY, before he yanked her inside and slammed the door shut behind them.

The room seemed to serve as a locker room for staff. There was an old couch, several chairs and a table. Shelving on the walls held supplies and various items of clothing.

A lock clicked shut.

“What the fuck were you doing out there?” Amaury’s voice could have put any thunder to shame.

“None of your business.” She wasn’t going to cave in. He had no right to tell her what to do, just because she’d let him touch her intimately. Nina lifted her chin and looked at him. His eyes were glaring red. Oh, yeah, he was definitely mad at her.

His nostrils flared, his chest heaved with every breath he took. If she hadn’t seen what gentleness was hidden beneath his rough exterior, she would have truly seen him as a monster. His imposing frame loomed over her, as if he was trying to intimidate her.

“I told you to stay at my place and wait for me.”

“You can’t order me around. I can do as I please.”

“Not if it means you’re putting yourself in danger.”

“I was in no danger.”

He blew out a puff of air, then took a step closer and backed her against the wall. “Oh, no? Then let me tell you something about Luther. They don’t come any more dangerous than him. From now on you will not go out there on your own. Your days of investigating your brother’s death are over.”

“You have no right—”

He pressed his body against hers, pinning her hands against the wall. “You’re listening to me now. I’ll be doing the investigating from now on. I’ll help you, but you’ll no longer put yourself in the path of every damn vampire in this city. Is that clear?”